Ukip’s vote is down by around 13% on 2015 when they secured a 12.5% share of the national result with a single MP.

It will heap pressure on leader Paul Nuttall, particularly if he fails in his bid to secure a Commons seat.

Much of the focus is now on where Ukip’s vote will go, with Labour and the Conservatives both benefiting from the churn in support.

The party will hope it can benefit in a hung parliament (Picture: REUTERS/Paul Childs)

Despite all this Nigel Farage – remember him? – insisted that Ukip could benefit if the country faces a hung parliament.

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He told LBC Radio: ‘If the result of this tonight is that we finish up without a government with a clear majority pushing for Brexit, then a huge gap opens in the political landscape for Ukip once again.’